Charles a



I. G. VAN DOREN, Deod. 8Sheets-Sheet'1;

C. A; COVERT, Administrator.

- LIBRARY SHELF.

Patented Apr. 8. 1890.

(No Model.)

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N0. 425,117. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

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a TERS cm, Pmno-umm, wisumnwu n c v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. VAN DOREN, OF NEWVARK, NEW? JERSEY; CHARLES A. COVERT ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID VAN DOREN, DECEASED.

LIBRARY-SH ELF.

SPECIFICATION forming m of Letters Patent No. 425,117, dat April Application filed August 19, 1889. Serial No. 321,207- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: tral brace, crank-connections for shelves and Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. VAN chains, and the bearings and adjustment of DOREN, a citizen of the United States, residwheels and shafts. Fig. shows forward ing at Newark, in the county of Essex and wheels. Fig. 6 shows rear wheels. Fig. 7

5 State of New Jersey, have invented certain shows an enlarged section of the forward new and useful Improvements in Librarychain with shelf-link. Fig. 8 shows crank- Shelves; and I do hereby declare the followconnecting link, with pivotal pin and guideing to be a full, clear, and exact description wheels attached, of the rear chains. Fig. 9 is of the invention, such as will enable others a longitudinal section of Fig. ,8 with track 10 skilled in the art to which it appertains to added. make and use the same, reference being had The description herein' is to be taken as to the accompanying drawings, and to letters applying to both sides of the system. of reference marked thereon, which form a Similarletters refer to similarparts throughpart of this specification. out the several views.

[5 My invention relates to improvements in The casing A, the top K, the bottom J, the elevating shelves or boxes by means of a conback D, the central brace E, together with tinuous or endless chain, rope, belt, or band the studding or post B, as shown in Fig. 1, operating in combination with Wheels adapted constitute the fram e-work of the system,which for the purpose, together with shafts, cranks, can be made stationaryor movable, as desired.

20 tracks, and other necessary attachments, The post B can be dispensed with in light which will be hereinafter fully described and constructions. It is designed as a firm supset forth. port, against which or into which to firmly The objects of my invention are, first, to secure central brace E. The central bracing provide a continuously ascending and de- E must pass entirely through the system, cen- 2 5 scending series of shelves or boxes; second, trally between the shelves M and between upto preserve their equilibrium and place rigper and lower system of wheels F and G, idly at any angle while in motion or at rest, through center of core H, and be firmly senot only on the straight line of ascent and de cured either in post B or outer casing A, as scent, but also at the turning-points at the shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The supporting- 30 top and bottom of the system, and, third, to shaft S passes entirely through the system at bring any or each shelf down to any desired the top, centrally on a linewith central brace level to conveniently reach articles thereon E and just above it, revolving on a bearing instead of having to climb up to them. I aton central brace E at d and in a bearing in tain'these objects by the mechanism illusouter casing A at cl, as shown more clearly 35 trated in the accompanying drawings, in in Figs. 3 and 4.. To this supporting-shaft S whichare firmly secured the two upper forward Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sys Wheels F on both sides of the system just intem of elevating shelves or boxes embodying side the inner casing A, as shown in Figs. 3 my invention, with portions broken away. and 4. The top shaft S and two upper for- 40 Fig. 2 is a left-hand end elevation 'of Fig. 1 ward wheels F, together with the central from the shelf side with inner casing broken brace E, firmly secured in outer casing A or away, exposing the chains, wheels, and track, post B, support the weight of the shelves M the upper half of the View showing the rear when connected to them; also, the top shaftS chain and track and lower half showing the transmits motion from side to side of the sys- 45 forward chain. Fig. 3 is a top sectional lontem by revolving in its bearings at (Z and d, gitudinal view of Fig. 2, both chains being the two upper forward wheels F revolving shown as extended in proper place. Fig. 4 is with shaft- S, being secured to it. an elevated edge view, in section, of right- An opening 0 cut in the inner casing A on hand end of the system, showing position of a line with forward chain a. in its revolution,

5 top supporting-shaft and smaller shafts, cenas clearly shown in Fig. 1, makes a 'passage- 10o way for connecting-crank c and shelf-piece c" to pass through openings in forward chains a at a to reach shelves M, this opening 0 to be only large enough to accommodate crank c and shelf-piece c" with the least friction. By the cutting of this opening 0 in the inner casing A for the crank-connections to reach the shelves, the central portion is detached from the rest of the casing and forms a core II. This core H is fitted to and held in position by the central brace E on the same line with the rest of the inner casing, said brace E passing vertically through the core II and firmly secured in outer casing A. This is partly shown in Fig. l to the left of the figure and more clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In the outside casing A, at 71., directly in the rear and on a line with shaft S, but raised above it, are placed short shafts R, firmly secured in casin g A, to form a bearing on which revolve the rear wheels G, care being taken to clear the shaft S with the revolution of wheels G, as shown more clearly in Fig. *t. The wheels G at the bottom of the system being placed in the same relative position to the forward shaft and wheels as at the top, the chains (1 and a are made of built-up links, as shown in the drawings, or of rope, band, or belt. The forward chains a. are provided with suitable openings in the side or edge of shelfbearing links only, (seen more clearly at a in Fig. 7,) to receive one end of connecting cranks c and shelf-pieces 0. Such openings are regulated by the distance apart desired for shelves M, allowing sufficient head room to prevent interference at turl'iing-points at top and bottom of the system. The openings N through face of forward chains, as shown more clearly in Fig.7, fit over and around projections on wheels F, as shown at Z), Fig. 5, and prevent slipping of the chains. Each crank-bearing link in forward chains (1. is made thicker than the other links, as seen more clearly at a, Fig. 7, to provide sufiieient room for the opening at a without weakening the link, and this increased width falls into a corresponding depression in wheels F, as seen at a, Fig. 5. On the rear chains (L instead of openings, as at a, in forward chains, are placed pins c, (more clearly shown in Fig. 8,) secured to links at the same distances apart as the openings at a. On these pins 0 are pivoted the vertical portions of connecting-cranks c, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper ends of cranks 0 being provided with openings for this purpose; also on rear chains a on both upper and under sides of links, on each link, or at such distances apart as may be found necessary, are secured small guide wheels or rollers c, (more clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9,) which fall into depressions provided in wheels G for this purpose, as shown at I), Fig. 6. The rear chains, acting only as guiding ones, can be of lighter construction than forward chains. The four chains a and (I) are to be of an exact length with each other, passing over the upper set of wheels F and G at the top of the system, and under the lower set, and the ends of chains joined together, thus making of each an endless or continuous chain. The rear chains a should work perfectly free over and under wheels G, and through track 6, formed on the inner side of the outer casing A.

Other styles of chains and wheels may be used than those shown in the drawings, and in that case chains and wheels must reciprocally correspond, the principle remaining unchanged.

The connecting-cranks c and shelf-piece 0" pass through the openings 0 and through the opening at a in the forward chains a, revolving in said openings in the link at a, and are telescoped into each other and firmly fastened together, forming one solid piece, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. One end of shelf-piece c" is fitted with a shoe, which is firmly secured to shelves M, and when thus joined together crank c, shelf-piece c", and shelf M form one rigid piece with vertical portion of crank 0 inside the casings A and between forward and rear chains, as seen in Figs. 1 and L is end and back pieces for shelves M to prevent articles from pushing against the casings or central brace. They can extend all around the shelves M, if necessary, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Atrack c is securely built against the inside of outer casing A, into or against which run the guide wheels or rollers e on rear chains 0 built so as to allow guide wheels or rollers e" on both up per and under sides of the links to run into or against it to prevent any sagging or side motion of rear chains a on the line of ascent or descent, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 9. If preferred, the track 6 can be built across the ends, both at the top and bottom of the system, on a curved line to correspond with wheels G, thus allowing the guide wheels or rollers e to run into or over it on the ends as well as the straight line, and when track 6 is so constructed wheels G can be dispensed with. The vertical portion of connectingcrank 0 must be the same length as the elevation of rear wheels G above forward wheels F between centers. The bearings of crankconnections 0 and shelf-piece 0 through forward chains a at a must allow said cranks to revolve easily in such bearings, but without lost motion. The same also applies to the pivotal-pin connection e 011 rear chains to prevent wabbling of the shelves M.

All bearings, both of shafts and wheels, should be smooth and true to insure proper working with the least friction and noise.

Doors are provided in the edge of casings A to obtain access to the inside, as seen at \V, Fig. 1. a are knobs on same.

A lock is placed against the inside of inner casing A, as seen at Z in Fig. 1, controlled by a springer-other device, and operated through ICC an opening in the edge of easing A, designed to stop and hold shelves M at any level by pushing the bolt or spring into one of the openings N on forward chains a. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 7.)

Doors or curtains can be provided for the front of the system, or it can be left open, if preferred;

The drawings show only eight shelves; but the system'can be built from the cellar to the roof, if desired, and any number of shelves or boxes employed-at any angle, provided the necessary strength be obtained in construction to sustain the weight. Power other than by hand can also be used to turn or work the system by extending shaft S beyond the outer casing A at I), and attaching thereto a driving-wheel and belt-connections withany system of power.

hen all the parts of frame-work have been set up, and wheels F and G, shafts S, b, and R, chains a, connecting-cranks c, and shelf-piece 0, together with track 6, carefully placed in position and adjusted, then firmly secure shelves M to the shoe end of shelfpiece 0', as shown in Fig. 1, thus connecting the system with shelves M.

By simply applying the hand to one of the shelves M they are made to pass up and down and around at either end, always maintaining rigidly the angle of adjustment to crank c and shelf-pieces c" at every point of the system. Thus I have provided a most convenient receptacle for books (as a librarycase) or other articles that are placed on shelves or in boxes and which require the aid of a step or ladder to reach the top shelves or boxes. I obviate the necessity of climbing up to reach them bymyinvention, which allows the shelf or box to be brought down to any level without disturbing in the least the contents, and stopped and held at the pleasure of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new and to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a system for elevating shelves or boxes, the combination, with the frame thereof, of the shelves M, adapted to be arranged and maintained fixedly at any desired angle, shelfpieces 0'' and connecting-cranks c, chains a, and chains a carrying pins 6, all said parts being arranged with relation to one another and operating, as shown and described for the purposes set forth.

2. In a system for elevating shelves orboxes, adapted to be arranged at any fixed angle, the combination of endless chains a, having therein openings 0. and n, shelf-pieces c", journaled in said openings a, wheels-F F, having projecting knobs, endless chains a having thereon pivotal pins 6 and guidewheels 6, cranks 0, connected with or pivoted on said pins 6, wheels G G, and guiding-track c, all said parts being arranged with relation to one another and operating as shown and described, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a system for elevating shelves orboxes, adapted to be arranged at any fixed angle, the combination of wheel F, shaft S, carrying said wheel and revolving therewith at the top of said system, core H, short shaft 1), located at the lower part of said core, a Wheel revolving on said shaft, the endless chain a, short shafts R at the top and bottom of the system, wheels G G, arranged to revolve on said shafts R, and endless chains a all said parts being arranged in relation to one another and operating as shown and described, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a system for elevating shelves or boxes, the combination of shelves M, adapted to be maintained fixedly at any desired angle, the chain a a guiding-track e, built against the inner sides of the outer casing A and projecting inward from the casing on both sides of said chain a and the guiding-wheels 6'', carried by said chain a all said parts being arranged with relation to one another and operating as shown and described, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a system for elevating shelves or boxes, the combination, with the frame thereof, of wheels F and G, chains or and a guidingtrack 6, shafts S, b, and R, crank-connections c, shelf-pieces c, and shelves M, all said parts being arranged with relation to one another and operating as shown and described, for the purposes set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of January, 1889.

FREDERICK C. VAN DOREN. Witnesses:

FANNIE E. TRAPHAGEN, ALFRED GARTNER.

ICO 

